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As business leaders representing every sector of the economy, Business Roundtable members know that the American economy thrives when U.S. workers have the levels of education and training needed to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our country needs a world-class, skilled workforce to lead in global innovation, ensure future economic growth and drive job creation.

Unfortunately, the U.S. skills gap is real and growing. According to a Business Roundtable member survey, 94 percent of CEOs report that skills gaps are problematic for their companies. This talent gap affects all skill levels – from entry level to the highly technical.

More must be done now to strengthen the education and training pipeline serving youth and working adults so that individuals have the skills needed to be prepared to work and build sustainable career paths.

Letter to Leaders Reid and McConnell on Basic Research and STEM

The private sector is doing its part to ensure that the U.S. remains the world’s scientific and technological leader.

Business Roundtable’s Response to State of the Union - Education

We were pleased that the President touched on the need for a well-educated and prepared workforce. The U.S. education system has not kept pace with the economy’s growing requirement for increased education and that of our global competitors. Current and future American students and workers need a stronger education and higher skills to compete in today’s global economy. Our education system needs to be held accountable for results and getting a much better return on taxpayers’ investment.

Statement on Passage of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act

Business Roundtable applauds the House for its swift action in passing the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act today. The bill will attract more young Americans into technical fields, expand the employment horizons and earnings potential of millions of new American workers, and strengthen America’s future.

How Companies are Promoting JobSTART 101

The following are some ways companies are promoting JobSTART 101.

Customizable Email for Educators to Promote JobSTART 101 to Students

The course is geared towards college students and recent college graduates entering the workforce, and introduces the professional skills necessary for entry-level employees to succeed in today’s workplace.

Customizable Letter for Companies to Promote JobSTART 101

A recent survey conducted by The Springboard Project – an independent commission of thought leaders – found that 61 percent of U.S. employers say it is difficult to find qualified workers to fill job vacancies.

Business Roundtable Announces Roadmap for Growth - Transcript

Good morning. I'm Johanna Schneider with the Business Roundtable. We're here today to release the Business Roundtable's Roadmap for Growth. Ivan Seidenberg, who's our Chairman, will make initial opening remarks and then Andrew Liveris, with Dow Chemical, will talk a little bit more about the roadmap.

Business Roundtable Releases Roadmap for Growth

At its quarterly CEO meeting today, Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of leading U.S. companies, announced the release of its Roadmap for Growth, a holistic plan to return America to long-term economic growth, create jobs and position the United States as a global leader in the 21st century.

Roadmap for Growth - Education

American businesses create jobs, innovate, manufacture and provide the services that drive our economy. In short, they are the foundation for economic growth. Yet, a host of new laws and regulatory actions are restricting their ability to help our economy recover. This is why Business Roundtable created the Roadmap for Growth, our pro-jobs economic strategy.

JobSTART 101: Smart Tips and Real-World Training Overview

In a recent survey, the commission found that 61 percent of U.S. employers say it is difficult to find qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies. Structural shifts in the economy are creating a widening disparity between the skills and experience that workers have and those increasingly demanded by the workplace.

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Committee Priorities

Improve U.S. K-12 Education

A persistent complaint by employers is that many high school and college graduates – as well as some adult workers – lack foundational skills needed in the 21st century workplace. These include, for example, analyzing complex texts, adapting to new technologies and problem solving.

Rigorous academic standards in K-12 English language arts and mathematics are critical to ensuring all students graduate from high school ready for college and the workforce. Business Roundtable supports the full adoption and implementation of high-quality education standards and aligned assessments to raise the performance of U.S. students. Business Roundtable also supports policies and programs that ensure all students read on grade level by the end of third grade.

Align Individual Skills with Employer Needs

Businesses increasingly have difficulty finding employees with the knowledge and training required to meet their workforce needs. This includes both technical skills – such as aptitude in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) – and applied skills – such as leadership, problem-solving and communications abilities. This misalignment of skills exacerbates unemployment and stifles economic growth.

Business Roundtable believes a multifaceted solution, involving public and private players, is needed to address this skills mismatch problem. As a start, employers must send a clear, direct “demand signal” of the foundational attributes employees must demonstrate to succeed in the workplace; industry needs to sort out the large and chaotic world of industry credentials; state workforce boards and educational and training centers must understand job needs in each region and focus on helping students acquire the skills needed to fill those jobs; and human resources practices must improve across industry to identify competencies gained through valid credential programs and relevant experience.

Key Federal Legislation

Business Roundtable will continue to advocate for federal legislation that authorizes programs and policies that improve educational outcomes and help close the skills gap, including reauthorization of America COMPETES, the Carl D. Perkins Act and the Higher Education Act.

Committee's Recent Activities

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